VANCOUVER:

Legendary rock band The Police on May 28 staged their first major public concert since breaking up in 1984, kicking off a reunion tour and drawing screams from a bedazzled crowd.

The performance in Vancouver, Canada launched the rock band’s 30th-anniversary global tour, and was a much-awaited reunion for British frontman Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland.

“Hello Vancouver!” Sting called out to the around 20,000 fans in General Motors Place, who responded with deafening screams. “We chose Vancouver because you’re Vancouver.”

Shouting over hollering and clapping, he thanked the Squamish aboriginal band for letting The Police practice for the last three weeks in their traditional longhouse.

Then it was down to business and more than two hours of non-stop music that evoked the raw energy that made The Police a rock icon of the 1970s and 80s.

With a packed arena of thousands of fans mouthing or singing the familiar words, The Police ran through their repertoire of hits from the opening tune of Message in a Bottle to Roxanne and Don’t Stand So Close to Me, wrapping up their second and final encore with Every Breath You Take.

The raised stage was surrounded on all sides by the audience. Doing without accessories such as massive screens, the trio performed under a kaleidoscope of intricately choreographed lighting that bathed the arena in a multi-coloured glow.

After two hours of intense performance, Sting, Summers and Copeland took their bows and hugged each other. Sting blew kisses to the audience.